The Board of Pharmacy posted the agenda and meeting materials for the April 5 meeting of the Licensing Committee. 

Also in California, the Department of Health Care Services posted the following updates: 

• On March 29, DHCS received approval from CMS to waive the asset test at redeterminations for members enrolled in Non-Modified Adjusted Gross Income (Non-MAGI) Medi-Cal. The waiver flexibility is effective for renewals retroactive to March 1 through December 31. Asset elimination takes effect on January 1, 2024. This waiver flexibility ensures continuity of coverage for seniors and persons with disabilities who meet all other Medi-Cal eligibility criteria, such as income, and will prevent potential disruptions in their Medi-Cal coverage once redeterminations resume in April 2023.  DHCS issued Medi-Cal Eligibility Division Letter (MEDIL) 23-19 to provide counties with immediate guidance on operationalizing the waiver flexibility.  

• This week, DHCS posted the Medi-Cal Continuous Coverage toolkit in 17 Medi-Cal threshold languages (in addition to the previously posted English and Spanish). Each toolkit includes materials that can be customized to help DHCS Coverage Ambassadors and partners assist Medi-Cal members with the redetermination process. The content encourages members to update their contact information to ensure they receive important information about keeping their Medi-Cal coverage. On April 6, from 1 to 2 p.m., DHCS will host a Continuous Coverage Unwinding and Communications Campaign webinar (advance WebEx registration required) to discuss the Medi-Cal renewal and redetermination process, communications campaign updates, and how DHCS Coverage Ambassadors and other partners can continue to help assist in this important effort. 

• DHCS released a COVID-19 Uninsured Group (UIG) Program toolkit (in English and Spanish) to provide information to more than 500,000 UIG Program members about how to apply for ongoing coverage through Medi-Cal or Covered California before the program ends on May 31, 2023. Due to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency ending, Covered California will open a special enrollment period for UIG Program members that have their coverage ending. The special enrollment period will end 60 days after May 31, 2023. The toolkit offers vital information for DHCS Coverage Ambassadors to share broadly with their networks about where UIG Program members can find the resources to apply for health coverage, including contact details for their local county offices and how to apply online. More information about DHCS’ strategy to unwind the UIG Program is available in the Medi-Cal COVID-19 Public Health Emergency and Continuous Coverage Unwinding Plan posted on the Keeping Medi-Cal Members Covered webpage. 

• As of March 24, Phase III, Lift 1 of the Medi-Cal Rx Reinstatement plan has been successfully implemented. Providers are required to submit prior authorizations for new and renewing prescriptions in specific drug classes for members 22 years of age and older.   

• On March 29, the California Health & Human Services Agency, Department of Managed Health Care, and DHCS held a webinar to walk through the Governor’s proposal to modernize California’s behavioral health system. The proposal builds on the Administrations’ previous investments and policy reforms to re-envision how the state treats mental health and substance use disorders. More information and the presentation are available on the ​Modernizing our Behavioral Health Initiative webpage.  

Also in California, the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) posted the following alert on the Medi-Cal Rx Web Portal: Mpox Vaccine No Longer a Family PACT Pharmacy Benefit (March 30).    

Finally in California, Medi-Cal posted the following:   

• 2023 HCPCS Quarter 2 Update (March 30) 
• Mpox Vaccines and Laboratory Tests No Longer a Family PACT Benefit (March 17) 

For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.